Does Hamlet know he's being watched? How does this inform the way he acts? Is he justified in how he treats Ophelia? Do you get any insight in this scene into the reasons for Ophelia's later insanity?
Pick one film (or, if you talk about both, make that clear).
Does Hamlet know he's being watched? How does this inform the way he acts? Is he justified in how he treats Ophelia? Do you get any insight in this scene into the reasons for Ophelia's later insanity?
59 Comments
Monica
9/21/2014 11:42:29 pm
In the Kenneth Branaugh version, it's pretty obvious he knows he's being watched, though I'm not sure how. It's pretty spooky, actually. Anyways, that clearly affects his actions toward Ophelia. There are signs he actually care for her but acts otherwise to throw off the suspicions of his watchers. (Even though he comes off as even more sketchy than before.) Poor Ophelia is literally and emotionally yanked around by Hammy. Given that she doesn't seem to have many social interactions, the violently unclear emotional messages being sent by Hamlet would definitely help push her over the edge.
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Cassidy Curra
9/21/2014 11:49:49 pm
I'm pretty sure he's being watched by two-way mirrors (although they keep sticking their heads out of it, which is kind of confusing because of the way it's directed -- thanks, Kenneth Branaugh). Yeah, obviously, Hamlet cares about Ophelia -- that's pretty much the point of the scenes of them in bed. Honestly, I'm pretty sure Ophelia's suicide is mostly caused by her upset about the murder of her father -- though the fact that the murderer happens to be her boyfriend-thing (who has already shown violence against her) probably helped push her over the edge.
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Greyson Bourgeois
9/21/2014 11:53:44 pm
I would agree that he knows he is being watched, but doesn't know where he is being watched from. He caught between not wanting to push Ophelia away from him and not wanting to reveal how much he loves Ophelia to whomever is watching. The longer he strings her along, the more annoyed he gets at having to do so, hence him throwing open the mirrors at the end and seeming to get more sketchy as the scene progresses
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Alex Friedman
9/22/2014 03:19:27 am
I'm not certain that we can be certain about how Hamlet feels about Ophelia precisely because he seems to know he's being watched. Would be lie about his feelings, or would he just magnify what he really feels? "I might have sort-of kind-of loved you once but I certainly don't now (oh crap, I'm being watched) GET YOU TO A NUNNERY!" So I'm just not sure how much we can trust what Hamlet says outside of a soliloquy.
Sam Grayson
9/22/2014 06:00:17 am
We can contrast the 1996 movie, where Hamlet is deeply emotionally involved with the 1990 movie, where Hamlet is increasingly callous and unattached to a delicate Ophelia. He pushes her around emotionally and physically. Ophelia speaks softly (almost whispering), then Hamlet screams.
Bobbie
9/21/2014 11:54:47 pm
I also thought it was obvious that Hamlet knew he was being watched throughout this whole scene. What with the talking to the mirror, and tapping his dagger against it, it seemed pretty clear that he was putting on a show for the people behind the two-way mirror (one of the many that line that hall). However, after Ophelia comes in and he hears the *thunk,* he seems startled, as if he didn't expect anyone to be listening. But the way he drags her around opening all the two-way mirrors, it seems pretty clear that he knew they /were/ two-way, even from the beginning of his soliloquy. I just find it hard to believe he didn't realize someone could be watching him /until/ he heard that noise.
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Jacob Yarnell
9/22/2014 05:43:33 am
Thank you Mel Gibson for your dedication to the posterity of Hamlet. Just kidding, because in reality his acting is way over the top. However, I feel like in the scene with him and Ophelia, the use of two way mirrors is very interesting because it shows him looking at himself and seeing how he is acting, while also allowing him to be looked on by other people. I feel that he knows that he is being watched by other people because he begins to search through all of the mirrored doors, attempting to find those who he feels are watching. When he says "where is your father," it implies that he is sure her father is watching him and that is why she is saying the words she is saying. Because he knows he is being watched, he goes into overdrive on trying to act over the top and crazy towards Ophelia trying to prove he does not love her to the onlookers. I feel he is justified in the way he treats her because he actually is in love with her, and she begins to act as if she loves him not. Her being deceitful to play to her father watching is what certainly makes Hamlet's actions justified because Ophelia was acting as a treacherous woman. This gives insight into Ophelia's insanity later because she is ultimately controlled by her father, and because she does only his bidding Shakespeare looks to make an example of her, and make an example of women who only act as subordinate people.
Ellie Dr. Pepper(ell)
9/22/2014 05:51:16 am
I would actually have to disagree about his actions being because he is being watched. In this movie Hamlet does not realize he is being watched until halfway through his rant. He realizes when he hears someone move and that is when he begins to get violent with Ophelia. If he had known the entire scene and wanted to hide their relationship, he would not have enbraced her at the beginning of the scene. I think Hamlet goes off on Ophelia because he is trying to distance her from him because he knows he's about to commit murder.
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Sahithi Tupuri
9/23/2014 03:05:31 pm
Hamlet definitely knows that he is being watched, but not the whole time. There is a large thud and it is confirmed to him that Polonious might be watching. After the thud, he becomes violent searching for the watchers. (Though by banging the doors might not be the best way to sneak up on them)
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Daniel Um
9/21/2014 11:50:55 pm
In the 1996 version, Hamlet begins the “To be or not to be” scene by saying his lines in front of a mirror. The way Hamlet points his sword to the mirror depicts how little he values his own life and how he could end it with his own sword. When Ophelia enters the room, Hamlet does not know at first that he is being watched. The movie depicts Hamlet as someone who loves Ophelia, but Hamlet indulges into his insanity when he begins speaking of how Ophelia should be foolish to think that he had ever loved her. A thud near the door changes the way Hamlet acts. Hamlet wants to continue to convey his insanity to the public. Hamlet wants to express the corruption in Denmark with his own insanity. They way Hamlet treats Ophelia portrays Hamlet as an aggressive person. Hamlet pushes Ophelia around cursing at her and all women for giving birth to sinners, and declaring there to be no more marriages. This act is not justified since Hamlet pushes around Ophelia knowing that he is being watched by both Claudius and Polonius.
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Ross Murdock
9/21/2014 11:58:47 pm
I had forgotten about the thud, but I'm not sure if it is anything more than a reminder. Actually now that I think about it, I believe you are exactly right about the thump signifying his understanding that someone is behind the mirror and through extension of that thought, his threatening of the sword was actually directed at himself. Rather than be a way to threaten those behind the mirror as I previously thought, it was a symbol of Hamlet's desire to become a man who can act rather than one muddled by his own thoughts. My last post seems false now.
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Evan Myers
9/23/2014 12:55:31 pm
I think you have certainly hit on the significance of the sword pointing towards Hamlet as self directed, rather than an outward threat. I think its worth noting that despite accompanying the lines "to be or not to be," Hamlet points the sword towards his reflection rather than his own neck. In essence, he is holding his outward image at sword point--the facade that he is displaying toward the rest of the castle. With this in mind, I do not think that he is contemplating his own suicide, rather damning his lunatic persona for the murder that he will commit under the false guise. Further, this apparent lack of concern for self preservation is what the spies witness, confirming to them his insanity as the basis for his later actions. As for how this influences Hamlet''s later behavior toward Ophelia, I am inclined to agree with Daniel.
Kevin Chau
9/21/2014 11:59:53 pm
I think that although Hamlet is being rude to Ophelia, his actions are partially justified by the fact that he knows that he is being watched. The reason for his actions are to show others that he is crazy or insane as you said. Hamlet shouldn't have treated Ophelia in such a rude manner, but since he realizes that he is being watched he has to try to convince to his audience of his insanity. He also seemed to know that he was being watched the whole time because he was staring at the mirror for most of his conversation with Ophelia. Hamlet had a clear motive for his actions which makes his treatment of Ophelia to seem more justified, but of course he shouldn't have treated his love in that way.
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Ross Murdock
9/21/2014 11:52:32 pm
In Kenneth Branaugh's Hamlet, it is clear that Hamlet understands that he is being watched solely on his actions regarding the double-sided mirror. At first it is his simple fascination with the mirror as he advances in both distance and monologue. Hamlet's brandishing of his dagger as if to threaten Polonius and Claudius was very much a symbol for his desire for vengeance. Ophelia's scene with Hamlet is also a extension of the theme as Hamlet forcing her against the glass was a pure symbol for Ophelia's position in between her father and Hamlet. The entire scene is Hamlet both reflecting on himself and directly speaking to those plotting against him, thus speaking to his reflection and those hiding behind his reflection.
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Ben Rieden
9/21/2014 11:59:24 pm
I would have to agree with Mr. Murdock and his elegant explanation of this scene. Hamlet's actions clearly display that he is aware of the fact that he is being watched. One thing that would make this response even better than the pure wisdom that it already is would be to examine the scene from Ophelia's perspective and how Hamlet's actions affect her down the road.
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Ross Murdock
9/22/2014 12:00:35 am
His treatment of Ophelia is also justified as he sees her to be someone not fully committed to love but rather committed to their father's control. Still his thoughts on women as a whole are incorrect, but his feelings for Ophelia are justified.
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Katy Hanna
9/22/2014 05:51:22 am
How is his treatment in any way justified? What evidence does he have against Ophelia loving him? This version showed they had a physically intimate relationship, and there is initial tender contact in the scene: they hug, and kiss, and address each other sweetly before Hamlet turns violent and throws her into the mirrors.
Ben Pfeiffer
9/30/2014 12:43:24 am
Definitely. None of his actions or what he says has anything to do with his "love for Ophelia", and rather is to give the allusion that he is mad in love to Polonius and Claudius. He makes threats to the voyeurs because at this point in the play, Hamlet actually is starting to go mad in grief and wants to scare his step father, not to mention pretty soon after this scene he murders Polonius
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Ben Rieden
9/21/2014 11:55:19 pm
In the Kenneth Branaugh version of Hamlet, the 1996 edition, Hamlet knows that he is being watched during his "To be or not to be" scene. This can be seen through his acting, because he gestures towards the mirrors that Polonius and Claudius are hiding behind. He also leans Ophelia against the same mirror and stares through the mirror as if he is looking at the two spies. Hamlet is not justified in the way he treats Ophelia, making outrageous statements about her and all women. It can be confirmed that Ophelia's feelings were hurt when Hamlet threw his fit, and this probably contributed to her later insanity. Another reason Ophelia later went insane was due to the fact that she wanted Hamlet to make a proclomation of love for her, but instead he insulted her.
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David Hamilton
9/22/2014 12:01:40 am
I agree in the fact that Hamlet is not justified in his way of treating Ophelia. That is unacceptable no matter the circumstances. He definitely does know he is being watched by the way he looks into the distance as if he is aware of an additional presence in the room.
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Zia Lyle
9/22/2014 02:57:52 am
In 1996 Kenneth Branagh edition of Hamlet, it is evident that Hamlet discovers that he is being watched. At the beginning of Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” speech, he is seen looking into a two-sided mirror with Claudius and Polonius on the other side looking back at him. At this point I don’t think Hamlet realizes that the king is watching him, he seems focused on himself and not on the king. After Ophelia has entered and she and Hamlet are talking, there is a thud noise made, which clues Hamlet into the fact that someone is watching/listening them. At this point Hamlet’s demeanor clearly changes and he becomes much more aggressive, by dragging Ophelia around and slamming her into mirrors, which trying to discover Claudius and Polonius.
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Zia Lyle
9/22/2014 03:16:45 am
There is also a moment in which Hamlet and Ophelia are talking when Ophelia seems to be aware that she is being watched, which seems to hurt Hamlet and cause him to change his demeanor. Ophelia seems visibly upset and uncomfortable with the fact that she has to lie to Hamlet about the fact they are being watched and doesn't do a good job hiding this information. Hamlet feels that Ophelia betrayed him by allowing people to spy on them, which he sees as justification for the way he treats her (grabbing her, pushing her into the mirror). The way Ophelia is used by both Hamlet and her father in this scene (and how nobody seems to trust her) may have led to her loss of sanity later on in the play. Ophelia throughout this scene displays many emotions, from fear to sadness and is also physically damaged by Hamlet. This too many have led to her later insanity.
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Beck Goodloe
9/22/2014 03:19:15 am
Polonius and Claudius are also continually sticking their heads out of the mirror, watching Ophelia and Hamlet speak. You are right about the thud signaling the presence of the two eaves-droppers. It confuses me, however, the manner which Hamlet continues his speech after the thud. Once he is aware of their presence, he continues on the same path of thought, only increasing the volume of his voice as if he in fact wanted the men to know what was going on in his head. At the end of the scene, Hamlet drags Ophelia from door to door, trying to expose the men. It is obvious that he wanted to be heard and for them to know he exposed his thoughts to them willingly.
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John Michael Reyes
9/22/2014 03:11:28 am
In the Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, it is made pretty evident that he's being watched, as Hamlet surely knew of the double-sided mirrors in the chamber. However, the interesting part of this scene is that he does not act on this knowledge until he hears the door slam as his observers attempt to leave. He does, however get through his full soliloquy and most of the confrontation with Ophelia before acting violently and moving towards the mirror that Claudius and Polonius are looking through. When he knows for sure, his anger intensifies and he ends up throwing and hurting Ophelia, actions that are not justified. His matter-of-fact verbal abuses, such as his blunt "I loved you not," (3.1.129) and the declarations to get to a nunnery, go in complete contrast to how he treated Ophelia in previous scenes. Hamlet/s actions completely confuse and injure Ophelia, giving her some pretext for her madness, which is further amplified by the news of her father's death at Hamlet's hands.
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Megan Jarriel
9/22/2014 04:50:30 am
I completely agree with John Michael that Hamlet could be aware that he is being watched and that his actions grow in intensity as he hears a noise off stage. However, though this may not justify his actions, Hamlet could be acting up out of anger of being being betrayed, but also out of embarrassment. In this portrayal of Hamlet, it appeared that Hamlet was happy and possibly in love before Ophelia tried to give him his things back. It could be this embarrassment of rejection, combined with other's knowledge of his rejection, that led to his harsh actions.
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Lydia Woodruff
9/22/2014 05:58:12 am
Maybe his "harsh actions", like the way he throws her around, are all for show. He was much rougher with his own mother, and maybe he hoped that by convincing the watchers that she was the victim they wouldn't punish her.
Christian Buffum-Robbins
9/22/2014 03:11:41 am
In Franco Zefferelli's Hamlet, it is apparent that Hamlet knows he is being spied on. Near the beginning of the scene, he notices that he is being watched. His mannerisms before this observation seem rather reserved, but he notices he is being watched, his actions become much more exaggerated and explosive. Through his performance, Hamlet keeps looking up, as if to check if Claudius and Polonius are still watching. He is clearly trying to convince his spies that he is insane and therefore puts on a spectacle. His treatment of Ophelia (both physically and verbally) are part of the act; it mainly serves to convince his spies that he has truly lost it. I wouldn't say his treatment of Ophelia is justified. Ophelia's fear towards Hamlet's actions seem genuine; she is clearly frightened when Hamlet acts insane. Without any sort of sign that Hamlet is acting, Ophelia is essentially being emotionally manipulated. It gives us a good reason for why she herself went mad: the only man she ever loved had appeared to turn against her, and it certainly doesn't help that Hamlet eventually kills her father.
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John Michael Reyes
9/22/2014 03:20:11 am
While I agree that Hamlet knew he was being watched, I'm not so sure that the entire exchange with Ophelia could have been considered acting. He remains quite civil, countering her comments with decent arguments until he hears the door of the mirror. After that point, I think that Hamlet acts out of true anger for knowing that he's being spied on, and takes this out on Ophelia as a visible sign of his rage. I believe that if he were truly acting he would've held more restraint rather than slamming Ophelia against the mirror. It was also quite clear that he was trying more to intimidate them rather than just put on a show. The dramatic change in Hamlet's actions is what affirms to me that he's acting out of anger rather than cunning.
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Kinsey Winter
9/22/2014 05:52:18 am
He certaintly put on a spectacle. I also think while he was trying to convince them he was insane, he is till actually kind of insane.
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Elena Arnold
9/22/2014 03:14:28 am
In both movies it is rather clear that Hamlet knows he's being watched. In Kenneth's version this is shown through his soliliquy, in which he taps the glass and makes a big show for Polonius and Claudius behind the mirror. While he does look surprised later in the film when he hears the thud, I think this is because he was so in love with Opehlia that he forgot he was being watched. The thud made him realize he should continue to his "act". In Franco's film, he looks up and yells at the not very stealthy Polonius lurking above.
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Jacqueline
9/22/2014 03:14:46 am
In the Branaugh version, Hamlet does know he is being watched by Claudius and Polonius because he seems to be only talking to the one mirror they are in and he takes out his dagger and points it at the mirror. When Ophelia walks in he seems to temporarily forget that he is being watched until he hears the thud that notifies him. When he realizes this he starts manhandling Ophelia and saying things about all women. His treatment of Ophelia is not justified because it later helped her insanity because one minute he's telling her that he lover her and the next that he never loved her driving her emotions into a frenzy.
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Mehraz Rahman
9/22/2014 05:42:17 am
Personally, I don't think that he knew he was being watched at the beginning when he pulls the dagger to the mirror, even though it was the same one that Claudius and Polonius are hiding behind. The reason that I think it was a coincidence is that he hears the thud, and after that he becomes so hysterical and upset at Ophelia. If he had known he was being watched, he would probably have been more hostile towards her from the beginning.
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Inga Wei
9/22/2014 03:15:48 am
In Mel Gibson's Hamlet, during his brief and slightly violent interaction with Ophelia, it becomes very clear that Hamlet discovers he is being watched when he sees the slight flicker of a shadow on the staircase. Though this was, to Hamlet, a blatant betrayal of trust on Ophelia's part, it does not quite justify his violent tantrum. He physically starts pushing Ophelia around, screaming claims of feigned love and sexual promiscuity on Ophelia’s part. However, in this version, unlike Kenneth Branaugh’s version, there is no hint of any sexual interaction between the two, making Hamlet’s claims seem even more conjured and false. This is also accentuated with Ophelia’s almost platonic interaction with him when initiating conversation, and her cold tone. However, though his violence was disturbing, I don’t think this scene hinted at all at Ophelia’s later insanity. The love story between the two in this one seem much more idealized than tangible or physical, meaning it probably has less gravity in the lives of Hamlet and Ophelia.
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Ben Yang
9/22/2014 05:47:07 am
I find it hard to believe that Hamlet jumps to the conclusion that Ophelia betrays his trust when he sees the shadow flicker. I do not understand how he tells the difference between a spy or a walking bystander through a silhouette. I do agree, however, with his lack of justification for his tantrum. His tantrum is solely based emotion and the assumption that Ophelia is untrustworthy. I feel that Shakespeare does a vague portrayal of the strength of the love between Ophelia and Hamlet. I do not know if the love is strong or weak, but since Ophelia does go insane later and assuming that a broken heart is a single contribution to the change in mental stability, the love must have been not that weak.
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Oscar Ortuno
9/22/2014 03:16:06 am
In the Franco Zeffirelli version of Hamlet. When Hamlet encounters Ophelia at the beginning he treats her with respect and ask her how is she doing. But later there is a drastic change in attitude. When he hears someone coming down the stairs and sees a shadow. At that time he believes it is king Claudius or Polonius. Hamlet makes the decision to lie and cut ties with Ophelia. Hamlet feels like he does not want to bring Ophelia into his search of revenge. As he speaks to Ophelia in a different tone and yells out loud in order for the king and Polonius to hear in the movie. Hamlet forces her away. For this scene I did not get a sense that Ohphelia would have lead to her insanity to me it would mostly likely be when Hamlet is sent to England and her father death.
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Frankie Marchan
9/22/2014 03:17:41 am
In both the Branaugh and Zeffirelli interpretations of the interaction between Hamlet and Ophelia, Hamlet is aware of the presence of spies. In the Zeffirelli interpretation, Hamlet speaks loudly and often faces upward and turns about the area as though he suspects Polonius and Claudius (or perhaps just someone) are hiding in the stairwells or balconies. Hamlet is harsh to Ophelia, but in this case he has reason to believe that Ophelia is also aware of the spies. I do not think Zeffirelli's version of Ophelia with an overbearing father provides much insight into her later insanity. In the Branaugh version, Hamlet is not initially aware that there are others with him as he speaks to himself in the mirror. In this interpretation, Hamlet flips from being tender to being angry as Ophelia tries to return remembrances to Hamlet after they embrace and kiss. Hearing the sound of spies, Hamlet becomes both verbally and physically violent, slamming Ophelia into mirrors as he searches for the spies. While Hamlet's anger is mildly understandable, when Ophelia returns his gifts as though renouncing his love, but his actions are not justified, especially when he goes beyond yelling to throwing (as both movie interpretations showed) Ophelia around or into walls. It seems as though Ophelia cannot decide whether she loves Hamlet but is trying to obey her father. When her father dies at Hamlet's hands, this pull between the two men may affect her sanity.
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Megan Jarriel
9/22/2014 05:01:28 am
In Branaugh's Hamlet, Hamlet delivers his soliloquy while looking into mirror, near the end of his soliloquy Hamlet draws out a dagger and points it towards his reflection in the mirror. I do not think that this is aimed at Polonius and Claudius, because later in the scene, Hamlet swings open all the mirrors in the room as if he didn't know which one they are behind. Furthermore, Hamlet's soliloquy has a suicidal tone with ideas such as "To die, to sleep-" (III. I. 72) which would support the idea that Hamlet is pointing the dagger at himself.
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Chris Jones
9/23/2014 05:00:20 am
I think you make a good point and you use textual evidence well to support your answer, but I am not sure if I totally agree. The fact that Hamlet pulls out a dagger and goes around opening all of the mirror doors gives the impression that he is aware that he is being watched. In addition, the fact that Hamlet asks Ophelia where her father is makes it seem like he is suspicious about being watched by Polonius and probably Claudius too. I don't think it is a coincidence that the mirror he finally stops at and points the dagger at is the one that Polonius and Claudius are behind.
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Nha Nguyen
9/22/2014 05:32:53 am
In the 1996 version of Hamlet, it's very clear that Hamlet and Ophelia are in love with each other. Before Hamlet found out that they are being watched, Hamlet tearfully tries to end their relationship while Ophelia tries to restore it. After he notices Polonius watching, he curses at Polonius and changed his demanor toward Ophelia immediately. He realizes that Ophelia is being controlled by her father. He violently yells at Ophelia to go to a nunnery and yanks her anround the room. He is justified in his actions for Ophelia because he wants Ophelia to be out of her father's control. As for Ophelia, she misunderstands Hamlet's intentions. She thinks that Hamlet no longer care for her and pushes her into a nunnery. This could be a cause for her insanity later on.
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Weston Hill
9/22/2014 05:56:03 am
I disagree with your sentence "Before Hamlet found out that they are being watched, Hamlet tearfully tries to end their relationship while Opehlia tries to restore it." It is difficult to measure Hamlet's exact intentions in this scene, but what is clear is that Ophelia initiates the breakup, and Hamlet tries several times to evade ending the relationship. First, he denies having given Ophelia anything, letting Ophelia have the opportunity to retract her returning of his gifts. However, Ophelia insists on returining his "remembrances," and never once tries to make the breakup anything but complete.
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Ben Yang
9/22/2014 05:36:02 am
In the 1996 version of Hamlet, at first, I feel that Hamlet does not know that others are spying on him through one way mirrors. After Hamlet realizes spies are present in the mirror room, he acts aggresively, looking behind each mirror in attempts to find the eavesdroppers. I am not aware of any reason for Hamlet's actions towards Ophelia. I do not feel that Ophelia has done anything greatly offensie to Hamlet, and I think that Hamlet's insanity is driving his treatment to Ophelia. The visible problem for Ophelia, I sense, is that her father's words were true, that Hamlet does not love her as much as she thought. I imagine this to be a small heart broken, but nothing intense enough to drive her to insanity. However, Hamlet's grabbing of Ophelia and dragging her with him to each mirror may have been a bit rough.
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Nha Nguyen
9/22/2014 05:43:20 am
I think Hamlet was pretending to be crazy for a while. In private with Ophelia, Hamlet doesn't want to act crazy. However, when he sees that they are being watched. He changes his attitude for the spies to see. Another interpretation is that he is just crazy and has fits of anger. It could just be coincidence that Hamlet went crazy in the later part of the scene against Ophelia.
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Ceci "real gman" Gould
9/22/2014 05:54:42 am
I agree with you for most of your post except about whether this is insight on Ophelia's madness or not. I think that because Ophelia can't stick up for herself to the males in her life causes her to go mad. She listens to her father even though her heart tells her to believe Hamlet. In addition, Hamlet is mad and aggressive towards Ophelia, making her go mental herself.
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Mehraz Rahman
9/22/2014 05:37:44 am
In Kenneth Branaugh's version of the film, Hamlet at first does not know that he is being watched by Polonius and Claudius. When he first speaks with Ophelia, he says all the things that were said in the other movies and book like "nymph", but he says them in a playful manner. They also kiss in a manner that suggests that they have known each other in the past. He suddenly becomes angry when he hears a sound that intimates that they are being watched. This movie had a darker undertone than the other versions because Hamlet suggests that he's been thinking about suicide by pulling out a dagger (this was towards the beginning of the scene).
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Ceci "real gman" Gould
9/22/2014 05:43:04 am
In the Kenneth Branaugh representation, Hamlet seems to be in love with Ophelia and doesn't know that the parents are listening behind a mirror door. However, a noise coming from the mirror room makes Hamlet suspicious that they are being watched. He asks Ophelia where her father is, but when she replies saying he is at home, he feels betrayed! He knows they are there now, and her lying about it makes him react aggressively, dragging her around the room and opening each mirror door in search of the perpetrators. He is justified because he is hurt by her lying and giving him back the cards of his affection. However, he probably shouldn't have been violent, but it is set in Shakespearean time abusing women wasn't that bad as it is now. She probably goes insane because she loves Hamlet, but her dad keeps telling her that he is using her for sex. She must listen to her father and go against her feelings for this mad, and abusive, prince. She is basically letting all of the men in her life control her, which will aid in being her downfall.
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Hollie "ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ" Pantalion
9/22/2014 05:54:10 am
I think the sexy part of this scene was weird ( º _ º ). I know it was a choice made by the director, but I feel like it gave Ophelia and Hamlet a deeper tie, that wasnt stated in the play. The mystery behind their relationship was important part of the story, in my opinion. The sexy points straight to the fact that Hamlet is using Ophelia for sex and only sex. The lovey dovey stuff could just be Hamlet lying. I mean he is a crazy, insane d00d who needs lovin to get over his daddio's death. So the sex scene makes their relationship more shallow then it should be! ಠ_ಠ
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ಠ_ಠ HOLLIE
9/22/2014 05:56:10 am
disregard the part about the deeper tie! i forgot to delete that :/
John Chan
9/22/2014 05:43:42 am
I think Branaugh's interpretation of the scene was the most interesting. It explains Hamlet's sudden change of demeanor towards Ophelia perfectly, by calling it a natural reaction to her rejection of him. In Branaugh's version of the play, Hamlet is not duplicitous. He does not try and trick Polonius, and pretend to hate Ophelia. Although he does know that someone is watching him (that cough!), he does not take advantage of the listeners.
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Kinsey Winter
9/22/2014 05:44:22 am
In the 1990 Zefferelli version, I think Hamlet knows he's being watched. He kept glancing around, and his emotions seemed out of whack, even for Hamlet. It motivated this bout of yelling, and he didn't seem to be paying much attention to the impact of his words.
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Frankie Marchan
9/22/2014 01:23:05 pm
I agree that Hamlet's yelling upward and constant looking around indicate he is aware of being watched. I also agree that his insolence is unjustified. I think Hamlet's anger is fueled by Ophelia trying to return the "remembrances" he had given to her, and Hamlet probably does not realize that Ophelia is acting on her father's behalf. I think you made a good point by connecting the pretending or seeming veil that Hamlet is constantly trying to lift and look under to his relationship with Ophelia.
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Ellie Dr. Pepper(ell)
9/22/2014 05:45:40 am
In Kenneth Branaugh's film, I truely believe Hamlet is in love with Ophelia. The way that Hamlet attacks Ophelia after embracing her is confusing especailly because of the extra contex this movie gives you about the level of their relationship, but I don't believe that he actually never loved her. It can be ruled out that his actions were because he was being watched because he does not realize there are others in the room until halfway through scene. I think that he goes a little crazy because he is trying to protect Ophelia from the actions he plans to take to avenge his father. If he and Ophelia were togther when the murder happened her reputation would be ruined and she would be even more distraught. I believe that this scenario is true over Hamlet actually not loving her because when he is speaking, Hamlet is emotional to the point of tears as if it is hurting him to break away from her. I also think this theory is correct because once he realizes they are being watched, he is furious that she has decived him and if he is genuinely hurt.
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Tripi Shrivastava
9/22/2014 05:46:54 am
Yes, in fact Hamlet did know that he was being watched in the 1990 version of the movie. This fact influences his behavior in that he makes no physical contact with Ophelia whatsoever. He also goes forth to scream and project his voice when he says that he does not love her anymore, so that the King hears him. I do think that Hamlet is justified in the way that he treats Ophelia in the scene, because he is doing it for the better good of both of them. If they were caught, then they both would be in trouble. This scene also justitifes why Ophelia becomes insane in the later scenes because she probably thinks that Hamlet no longer loves her, because he never went back to comfort her or tell her the real reason why he was acting up in the cave.
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Joann Min
9/22/2014 06:03:15 am
I very much agree with this. The way Hamlet raises his voice and changes his actions shows his realization that he is being watched. When he looks up and starts (almost) screaming, his change in movements and dialect very much show his uncomfortable situation of knowing that he is being watched and trying to make these people realize that he knows about it.
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Hernan Patino
9/22/2014 05:51:51 am
In the film Kenneth Branaugh, 1996, Hamlet statrs to act kind to Ophelia but as things between gets a little intense. He starts to say strong words that hurts Ophelia. As soon he hears a noise coming from the mirriors, he assumes that they are been watched. Which just calms him down, but acts still the same after he tries to find where he is been watched. I think he is justifeied by the way that he acts for the reason that Ophelia is denying that there is something between them. At the end it show how Hamlet acts and how he has a dark side to him.
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Joann Min
9/22/2014 05:58:18 am
In Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 Hamlet, Ophelia and Hamlet’s reunion in the hallway is kind and almost heartwarming, with Hamlet smiling, hugging, even kissing Ophelia. Their uncomfortable relationship is shown, however, with the awkward way Ophelia receives Hamlet’s gestures, even after speaking to him more comfortably than expected. The exchange in gestures becomes even stranger once Hamlet begins to deny every giving Ophelia any sign of his liking, making clear his intentions by slapping his love letters out of her furiously. However he does seem to try and justify his reasonings behind acting so strange towards Ophelia, as his eyes and manner of speaking sounds rather apologetic and urgent to make her simply understand. Up to this moment, viewers realize that Hamlet is unaware of being watched by Claudius and Polonius, as he finds no reason to act against his wishes by faking his emotions and dialect towards Ophelia. Due to Claudius and Polonius accidentally making a sound, Hamlet does figure out that someone is there, watching him. His realization of being watched is clearly shown as Hamlet drags Ophelia around the hall, opening each mirror door, searching for the people watching him.
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9/22/2014 06:00:44 am
In the 1996 version of hamlet, hamlet does not know he is being watched at first, until he hears a noise and figures out that ophelia's father is spectating them. it changes his mood from sad to angry and he begins to get abusive with her. he is not justified in his physical abuse as it is never appropriate to physically abuse another person, though his anger is not uncalled for. Ophelia's insanity is certainly understandable considering how traumatizing it must have been for her former lover to abuse her both physically and verbally so abruptly.
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Anna Blankenship
9/22/2014 07:38:36 am
In the version by Kenneth Branagh, it can be assumed that Hamlet is being watched by Polonius and Claudius through the two-way mirror. At first, it didn’t seem that Hamlet was aware that there were people behind the mirrors, but the way he acts with Ophelia and the mannerisms he has in the scene suggest he knows. The two-way mirrors suggest how Hamlet is constantly being watched, whether its by Polonius, Claudius or someone else in the kingdom. When Ophelia enters into the scene, Hamlet is rough with her and treats her harshly. If I was Hamlet, I would be upset too if someone I loved knew that people would be spying on us. In a way, I do feel that Hamlet is justified in his treatment of Ophelia. It seems that the scene when he pushes Ophelia up against the mirror that Claudius and Polonius are behind, he is tempting the two men. Is he going to hurt her, or even kill her before the eyes of her father and his father? Hamlet is upset with Ophelia for betraying his trust and only using him for someone else’s gain. I think that this relates to the cause for Ophelia’s later insanity. I feel that Ophelia goes insane because she is fed up with being used by people for their own self-gain. She was used by her father and Claudius to spy on Hamlet and now she has hurt the man that she loves.
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Sean Sheth
9/23/2014 03:12:15 pm
In the Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, I believe that it is evident that Hamlet is being watched especially since Hamlet knew of the double-sided mirrors on the doors in the chamber. The thing that allows for the entire situation to be odd, is the fact even with this new-found knowledge, Hamlet does not decide to act until he, is proven correct, when he hears the door shut and Polonius and Claudius attempt to flee. With his inkling confirmed, Hamlet's hatred intensifies because of the presence of his step-father and Polonius and as a result, he begins to abuse Ophelia, actions that are not justified if he had yet to discover of the spying ears. With the aforementioned dialogue in place, I believe that Hamlet was not justified in his actions especially because there is no excuse to harm a daughter who was simply obeying the commands of her father, yet pushing her around from the fact of the parental observation of their discussion.
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Ben Pfeiffer
9/30/2014 12:39:08 am
In Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, the director makes it clear that Hamlet knows they're being watched. Being the prince of the kingdom, Hamlet has definitely spent time wandering around and knows that the mirrors are see through. Because of this, he tests Ophelia on where her father is, and then acts completely insane, to convince Polonius and Claudius that he is in fact made over his love to Ophelia. I don't think he is justified in any way to treat Ophelia the way he does, but this scene does show Hamlet's severing from Ophelias life, which later causes her to have no guidance whatsoever once her father is killed.
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AuthorChristina Swan teaches AP English IV to seniors at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, in Austin, Texas. In her free time, she likes to watch sci fi shows on netflix. Over the summer she wrote some articles and gave some presentations in a desperate attempt to get media badges to some science fiction conventions. She also taught herself how to sew pants and build bookcases. Archives
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